Track alert system for automobile racing

ABSTRACT

A track alert system for automobile racing employs a transmitter for transmitting a selected one of a plurality of channel signals, each of which is indicative of a particular race track flag condition, a receiver capable of receiving each of the transmitted channel signals, and a priority/tone generator coupled to the receiver for prioritizing two or more simultaneously received channel signals and for generating a particular tone corresponding to a received, prioritized channel signal. The transmitter is fixedly positioned at a chosen location on a race track and is controlled by a track flag operator. A receiver and priority/tone generator are mounted in each of the race cars participating in a race. The generated tone corresponding to a track flag condition is received through an ear piece worn by each race car driver. A reset switch mounted in each race car enables the driver to turn off a generated tone once it has been recognized.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to automobile track racing and, moreparticularly, to a remotely operated audible warning device that servesto alert all race car drivers to hazards on the track, such as anaccident or debris, for example.

Race car track warning systems are presently visual in nature andtypically utilize manual flagging from a flagger stand and/or a cornerstation. In addition, some warning systems employ yellow and red warninglights positioned outside the perimeter of the track. As racing hasbecome more competitive, involving progressively higher speeds, theseprior art visual systems have become inadequate. The risk of drivers notseeing a displayed flag or warning light is increasingly higher, sincedrivers must focus primarily on negotiating corners and avoidingtraffic. Some prior art track warning systems have attempted to addressthese problems by placing lights in each car and around the track. Thesesystems are disadvantageous in that the lights are difficult to seeduring daytime races. In addition, they convey no information to thedrivers as to how long a warning light has been activated. Moroever,these systems do not have the ability of simultaneously warning alldrivers participating in a race.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to providea race car track warning system that provides reliable audio means tosimultaneously notify all participating drivers of track hazards.

This and other incidental objects are accomplished in accordance withthe illustrated preferred embodiment of the present invention byproviding a transmitter for transmitting a selected one of a pluralityof channel signals, each of which is indicative of a race track flagcondition, a receiver capable of receiving each of the transmittedchannel signals, and a priority/tone generator coupled to the receiverfor prioritizing two or more simultaneously received channel signals andfor generating a particular tone corresponding to a received,prioritized channel signal. The transmitter is fixedly positioned at achosen location on a race track and is controlled by a track flagoperator. A receiver and priority/tone generator are mounted in each ofthe race cars participating in a race. The generated tone correspondingto a track flag condition is received through an ear piece worn by eachrace car driver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a pictorial diagram of a transmitter that is fixedlypositioned at a particular location on a race track, in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 1B is a pictorial diagram of a receiver and priority/tone generatoremployed in the track alert system of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a detailed schematic diagram of the priority/tonegenerator of FIG. 1B.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1A, there is shown a transmitter 10 that isemployed in the track alert system of the present invention. Transmitter10 may comprise any of a number of commercially available RC hobbytransmitters, such as the Futaba model T6NFK transmitter, for example.Transmitter 10 is fixedly positioned at a chosen location on a racetrack and is controlled by a track flag operator. A pair of joysticks12, 14 on the panel of transmitter 10 serve to select a particularchannel on which a signal is to be transmitted. Each of the channelcorresponds to a conventional race track flag conditions. For example,channel 1, selected by moving joystick 12 of transmitter 10 to either ofthe positions designated P1, may be chosen to correspond to a red flagcondition. Channel 2, selected by moving joystick 12 to either of thepositions designated P2, may be chosen to correspond to a yellow flagcondition. Channels 3 and 4, selected by similarly moving joystick 14,may be chosen to correspond to other flag conditions.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, there is shown a receiver 20, a priority/tonegenerator 30, and an ear piece 40 that are also employed in the trackalert system of the present invention. These components of the trackalert system are located in each of the participating race cars.Receiver 20 may comprise any of a number of commercially available RChobby receivers, such as the Futaba model T6NFK receiver, for example.Receiver 20 receives a signal transmitted on each of the four channelson which transmitter 10 is capable of transmitting. Each of the receivedsignals is available as a channel output on receiver 20.

The received signals, corresponding to channel outputs 1-4 are coupledto priority/tone generator 30, a detailed circuit diagram of which isshown in FIGS. 2A-B. Priority/tone generator 30 serves to prioritizeeach of the channel signals transmitted by transmitter 10 and receivedby receiver 20 and to generate a corresponding audible flag tone that isoutputted by ear piece 40 to the race car driver. The componentsillustrated in the circuit diagram of FIGS. 2A-B are all available asoff-the-shelf electronic components. Logic chips U1-U5 are arranged in aconventional manner to determine the priority to be given to thereceived channel signals 1-4. In accordance with this circuit, thechannel signal having the highest priority overrides any lower prioritychannel signal in the event that two or more signals are received at thesame time. For example, a channel 1 signal would override any otherchannel signal, and a channel 2 signal would override either a channel 3or channel 4 signal. The prioritized channel signal received by receiver20 is applied to chips U6-U9 that may comprise off-the-shelf LM555 timerchips, for example, and that serve to generate a distinct tonecorresponding to that prioritized channel signal. A channel 1 signalresults in a tone generated by outputs B+D of chip U4; a channel 2signal results in a tone generated by output B of chip U4; a channel 3signal results in a tone generated by outputs A+C of chip U4; and achannel 4 signal results in a tone generated by output A of chip U4. Thegenerated tones representative of flag conditions initiated by the trackflag operator are heard over ear piece 40 worn by each race car driver.The circuit of FIGS. 2A-B also provides an input from an external resetswitch that is located in each race car that allows the driver to turnoff a tone once it has been recognized. Chip U5 serves as a latch toperform this function. A voltage regulator chip VR1 is employed in aconventional manner to supply the circuitry of FIGS. 2A-B with aconstant operating voltage.

The track alert system of the present invention may also be employed toalert drivers of vehicles in the area of street and highwayintersections of the approach of an emergency vehicle such as a firetruck, police car, ambulance, etc. In this application, transmitter 10would be located in each such emergency vehicle, and the receiver 20 andassociated circuitry of FIG. 1B would be located in every other vehicle.In use, the driver of the emergency vehicle would simply activate thetransmitter 10 located in his vehicle as it approaches an intersection.The resultant tone would be heard by drivers of all other vehicles inthe vicinity that are equipped with the receiver circuitry of FIG. 1B.In this application, ear piece 40 may be replaced by a speaker which maycomprise, for example, the one or more speakers of a conventional radioor music system installed in most of today's vehicles. Alternatively,the speaker may be separately installed for this application.

I claim:
 1. A track alert system for automobile racing, the track alertsystem comprising:a transmitter fixedly positioned proximate a racetrack for being controlled by a track flag operator, the transmitterbeing operative for transmitting one or more of a plurality of channelsignals selected by the track flag operator, each transmitted channelsignal being indicative of a particular race track flag condition; andreceiver means mounted in each of a plurality of participating race carsfor receiving each of the transmitted channel signals, the receivermeans including priority circuit means for prioritizing two or moresimultaneously received channel signals and tone generation circuitmeans for generating a particular audible tone corresponding to areceived, prioritized channel signal, said receiver means furthercomprising an ear piece worn by each race car driver for communicatingthe generated audible tone to the driver.
 2. A track alert system forautomobile racing as in claim 1 wherein said receiver means furthercomprises reset circuitry and a reset switch operative by the driver forturning off a generated tone following its recognition.
 3. A method foralerting race track drivers of a flag condition on the track, the methodcomprising:providing a transmitter fixedly positioned proximate the racetrack for being controlled by a track flag operator; transmitting one ormore of a plurality of channel signals selected by the track flagoperator, each transmitted channel signal being indicative of aparticular race track flag condition; and providing receiver meansmounted in each of a plurality of participating race cars for receivingeach of the transmitted channel signals, the receiver means includingpriority circuit means for prioritizing two or more simultaneouslyreceived channel signals and tone generation circuit means forgenerating a particular audible tone corresponding to a received,prioritized channel signal, the receiver means including an ear pieceworn by each race car driver for communicating the generated audibletone to the driver.